Lighter

ABSTRACT

A lighter has an ignition system and a burner valve and a actuator that is operable to actuate the valve and the ignition system at a time delay of the instant of ignition relative to the instant of valve opening, and a torsion rod is provided between the actuator and the ignition system and constitutes both a power transmission therebetween and an energy store.

United States Patent Gerhard Steuernagel Darmstadt-Eberstadt;

Willi Solzer, Stierstadt; Hans Schindler,

Egelsbach, all of Germany Sept. 16,1969

Oct. 5, 1971 [73] Assignee BraunAktiengesellschait Frankfurt am Main, Germany [32] Priority Sept. 25, 1968 [33] Luxembourg [72] Inventors [21] Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [54] LIGHTER 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 431/130, 431/254 [51] 1nt.Cl F23q2/08 [50] Field of Search 431/254, 255, 130; 317/81 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,246,207 4/ l 966' Remy 431/255 3,425,783 2/1969 Goto 43 l/255 3,458,765 7/1969 Schindler 317/81 Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors Attorney-Ernest F. Marmorek ABSTRACT: A lighter has an ignition system and a burner valve and a actuator that is operable to actuate the valve and the ignition system at a time delay of the instant of ignition relative to the instant of valve opening, and a torsion rod is provided between the actuator and the ignition system and constitutes both a power transmission therebetween and an energy store.

uon'rsn BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to lighters, and relates more particularly to lighters that have an actuator for the burner valve and for the ignition system, operating these in such a manner that there is a time delay of the instant of valve opening relative to the instant of ignition.

Reference is had to the impending Pat. application Ser. No. 843,047 filed on July 18, 1969 by Gerhard Steuernagel et al. and assigned to the assignee of the instant application.

Lighters are known that have an electric ignition system, reference, for instance, being had to the patent to Schindler No. 3,458,765, dated July 29, I969. Lighters with an electric ignition system have sometimes encountered disfavor, particularly from women who complained that a relatively large force was necessary for operating the ignition system. For this reason, manufacturers have often dispensed with the provision of an electric ignition system and have instead provided lighters with easily operable friction wheels. Dispensing with an electric ignition system in a lighter, however, has the disadvantage that one also dispenses with its advantages, namely the functioning of the lighter without need for servicing, the absence of soiling of the burner valve, and so forth.

If a lighter nonetheless is to be provided with an electric ignition system, for instance with a tearaway armature magnet ignition system, or a piezoelectric ignition system, the power transmission from the actuator to the ignition system must be carried out by means of a transmitter, as the ignition system for reasons of gravitational stability usually must be placed near the bottom of the lighter frame, thus spaced from the actuator. Furthermore, the time delay of the instant of ignition relative to the instant of opening of the burner valve requires an increased operating power for the transmission to the ignition system. Besides this disadvantageous power increase for the mechanical power transmission, this takes away valuable space that otherwise may advantageously be used for the maximum volume of the fuel tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly among the principal objects of the invention to provide a lighter that has an ignition system and a burner valve and an actuator that actuates the valve and the ignition system at a time delay of the instant of ignition relative to the instant of valve opening, and yet permits a volumesaving power transmission between the actuator and the ignition system.

It is another object of the invention to provide a lighter that avoids the aforesaid disadvantages of lighters now in use, and combines the advantages of an electric ignition system without taking on the disadvantages thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following specification and in part will be obvious therefrom without being specifically referred to, the same being realized and attained as pointed out in the claims hereof.

Broadly speaking, the instant aims are obtained by the provision of a torsion rod that is disposed between the actuator and the ignition system and that constitutes both a power transmission therebetween, as well as an energy store.

In accordance with a modification, the instant invention provides such a torsion rod that has an eccentric for operating the ignition system.

Such a torsion rod is particularly advantageous for use in connection with a tearaway armature magnet ignition, in which the armature is in driven connection from the torsion rod by means of a lever.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the torsion rod and/or the aforesaid lever of the armature is composed of an elastically deformable material.

In line with a further embodiment of the invention, the torsion rod may be pretensioned in its rest position.

The actuator that actuates the torsion rod, and which also opens the burner valve and initiates the uncovering of the flame aperture and of the air intake slots of the lighter prior to the actuation of the ignition system, may be formed as a roll, a slide or a push button, or a tiltable flap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF .THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In carrying the invention into efi'ect in the embodiments which have been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawing and for description in this specification, there is provided a lighter 1 that has an elongated quadrangular housing. An actuator, such as a tiltable flap 2 is provided that in its rest position (FIG. 1) is flush within the housing of the lighter l, and that may be swung out of the rest position into an active position at an angle to the rest position, about the longitudinal axis of the major upright portion of a torsion rod 3 near one end of the actuator 2. The torsion rod 3 is journaled in a bore 11 near one edge portion of the housing of the lighter l. The v torsion rod 3 has near its lower end a bent portion or nose 31' that is operable to engage a transmission lever 41 of a magnet ignition system 4 that is provided in the lower portion of the housing of the lighter 1.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the actuator 2 includes a pin 21 with which the actuator 2 is journaled in the housing of the lighter 1. The torsion rod 3 is connected to the pin 21, for instance by means of a nonround member 32.

In the active position (FIG. 3), the actuator 2 uncovers a flame opening 51 and air intake slots 52 and 53. In the inactive position (FIG. I), the actuator 2 closes the opening 51 and the slots 52 and 53.

In order to assure that the actuator 2 will be in the flush position (FIG. 1) when it is at rest, the torsion rod 3, in accordance with a preferred embodiment constitutes a pretensioned torsion spring.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A lighter having an ignition system and a burner valve,

comprising in combination,

an actuator operable for actuating, an ignition system, and

a torsion rod in driven connection with said actuator and in driving connection with said ignition system and constituting both a power transmission therebetween and an energy store.

2. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, said torsion rod being connected to said actuator, said torsion rod and actuator being tiltable about the longitudinal axis of a major portion of said torsion rod.

3. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, and an elongated housing for said lighter, said torsion rod having a major portion disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of said housing and being arranged near an edge portion within said housing.

4. A lighter, as claimed in claim I, said torsion rod having a free end including a bent portion, said bent portion being in driving connection with said ignition system.

5. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, said torsion rod including a nose in driving connection with said ignition system.

flame opening that may be covered and uncovered, respectively, and air intake slots that may be covered and uncovered,

respectively, said actuator actuating said burner valve and uncovering said flame opening and said slots prior to actuating said ignition system.

10. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, said torsion rod being movable between a rest position and an active actuating position, and in the rest position being pretensioned. 

1. A lighter having an ignition system and a burner valve, comprising in combination, an actuator operable for actuating, an ignition system, and a torsion rod in driven connection with said actuator and in driving connection with said ignition system and constituting both a power transmission therebetween and an energy store.
 2. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, saiD torsion rod being connected to said actuator, said torsion rod and actuator being tiltable about the longitudinal axis of a major portion of said torsion rod.
 3. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, and an elongated housing for said lighter, said torsion rod having a major portion disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of said housing and being arranged near an edge portion within said housing.
 4. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, said torsion rod having a free end including a bent portion, said bent portion being in driving connection with said ignition system.
 5. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, said torsion rod including a nose in driving connection with said ignition system.
 6. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, said ignition system including a tearaway armature magnet ignition system.
 7. A lighter, as claimed in claim 6, said armature including a lever, said torsion rod being in driving connection with said lever for actuating said ignition system.
 8. A lighter, as claimed in claim 7, said torsion rod and said lever constituting a two-part engagement, at least one of said parts thereof being composed of elastically deformable material.
 9. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, said lighter having a flame opening that may be covered and uncovered, respectively, and air intake slots that may be covered and uncovered, respectively, said actuator actuating said burner valve and uncovering said flame opening and said slots prior to actuating said ignition system.
 10. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, said torsion rod being movable between a rest position and an active actuating position, and in the rest position being pretensioned. 